Some tips for personal safety from Transgender Map:

• Awareness of yourself, your surroundings and a potential attacker’s likely strategies is where self-defense starts
• Stay alert

For protests and vigils, the Trevor Project recommends to let others know where you’re going, bring your ID and write a reliable phone number on your body in permanent marker in the case of arrest. Avoid wearing contact lenses, know your rights of free speech, a lawyer in criminal proceedings, protection from unlawful searches. he ability of film acts of violence by police,

Gracie Barra Columbia offers a free introductory self-defense class. Jaguar Self Defense is also located in Columbia. Thousand Waves has online resources for self-defense.

To report a hate crime or discrimination, you can go to state or local police and follow up with the FBI. Discrimination reports can also be filled out with the Civil Rights Division.